RELATIVE

CLAUSES
• We use relative clauses to provide
more information to the main clause
without starting another sentence.
• This information can either:
• Define something: defining relative
clause
• Provide extra information: non-
defining relative clause
 These relative pronouns and
adverbs are used to introduce
relative clauses (sb.p.48)
People Thing Place Time Reason

Subject
Who Which
(que) (o qual/ a
qual)
Object
Who/ Which Where When Why
(que) (onde) (quando) (porque/ pela
Whom qual)
(que)

Possessive
Whose Whose
(cujo/
cuja)
relative pronouns

WHO
WHICH
WHOSE
WHOM
THAT
 WHO
• subject or object pronoun for people

Example:
I told you about the
woman who lives
next door.
 WHICH
• subject or object pronoun for animals
and things

Example:
Do you see the cat
which is lying on
the roof?
 WHOSE
• possession for people animals and
things

Example:
Do you know the girl
whose mother is a nurse?
 WHOM
• object pronoun for people, especially in
non-defining relative clauses
• (in defining relative clauses we
colloquially prefer who)
Example:
I was invited by the
professor whom
I met at the conference.
 THAT
• subject or object pronoun for people,
animals and things in defining relative
clauses (who or which are also
possible)
 THAT
• Example:
I don’t like the table that stands in the
kitchen.

Ex. 1, sb. P.49

 Relative adverbs
• A relative adverb can be used instead of a
relative pronoun plus preposition. This
often makes the sentence easier to
understand.
This is the shop in which I bought my bike.
→ This is the shop where I bought my
bike.
Relative adverbs
WHEN

WHERE

WHY
 WHEN
• Meaning: in/on which
• Use: refers to a time expression

Example:
the day when we met him
 WHERE
• Meaning: in/at which
• Use: refers to place

Example:
the place where we met him
 WHY
• Meaning: for which
• Use: refers to a reason

Example:
the reason why we met him
1. Defining Relative Clauses
They define, give us essential
information about a general term
or expression. Defining Relative
Clauses are not put in commas:
- I talked to the man who gave you
the news.
- I read the letter which came this
morning.
(Which man ? The one who gave you
the news.)
(Which letter? the one that arrived
this morning.)
 Contact Clauses
The boy is the object of the sentence

• That’s the boy. I invited him to my

birthday party.
SO: who/that replace the object of the sentence

• That’s the boy who/that I invited to my

birthday party.
• AND:
• The relative pronoun can be omitted when
it is the object of the clause:
• That’s the boy I invited to my birthday
party.
 Remember:
Use WHO to refer to people and
WHICH to refer to animals, things, …
“THAT” can replace WHO and WHICH
in Defining Relative Clauses :
Did you know the girl WHO/THAT came
to the party yesterday?
The book WHICH/THAT I’m reading is
very interesting.
 2. Non-Defining Relative
Clauses
They give us more (extra) information
about a person, animal, thing, …
already identified ( by a name, a
possessive, …). They go between
commas.
- Your brother, who gave me the
news, saw the accident himself .
- I read Martin’s letter, which was full
of gossip.
In Non-Defining Relative Clauses we can’t use THAT and we can’t omit
the Relatives:

-I liked Toy Story, which I’ve seen recently. (not “that”, no

Omission)

-Shakespeare, whom you just mentioned, is the most famous

British playwright. (not “that”, no Omission)

-I’ve found my keys, which I had been looking for. (not “that”, no
Omission)
 Defining or Non-Defining?
Remember:

Defining Relative Clauses:

- Don’t take commas.
- “That” can replace Who, Which and When.
- You can omit Who, Which, When and That when they are not
the Subject of the Relative Clause.

Non-Defining Relative Clauses:

- Go between commas.
- You can’t use “That”.
- You can’t omit the Relatives.
 Compare:
-The neighbours who live next door
are very friendly.
-My neighbours, who live next door,
are …
- I enjoyed the film (which/that) you
recommended.
- I enjoyed Little Miss Sunshine,
which you recommended.